Door-latch



(No Model.)

H. D. WHEATLEY. DooR LATG11 Patented June' 2B,- 18'92.

Suva/w64,

s UNIT-nn STATES j PATENT Ottica.

HARRY D. WHEATLEY, OFY UNIONd CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO G. LAMBERT & SON, OF OI'IIO CITY, OHIO.

DOOR-LATCH.

SPECI}I(.`!AlI )1\T forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,790, dated June 28A, 1892 Application filed February 4, 1892. Serial No. 420,352. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY D. WHEATLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the countyof Randolph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latchcs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in whichxo Figure l represents a side elevation of a closed door provided with my invention; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view thereof; Fig. 3, a detail horizontal view of the catch; Fig. 4 an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 5 a r 5 detail perspective of the catch forholding the door open. l

This invention is designed to provide a simple latch for swinging doors and gates; and it -consists in certain novel features of construction fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, adesignates an outwardlyswinging door, and b the adjacent structure. The latch is secured in a slot a in the edge of the door, and it consists of aplate c, screwed z5 to the outer side of the door over the slot a therein, this plate having cast integrally with it a pair of separated parallel arms' c', which project inwardly through slot a and beyond the inner side of the door. The latchingplate d Works horizontally between the arms c and is pivoted at its extreme inner end berf tween the inner ends of the arms, the plate being provided with bosses d', which bear against the adjacent sides of the arms. This 3 5 plate d is provided at its outer end with a hook cl2, which extends out through a horizontal slot in the plate c, and is curved to one side toward the edge of the door. One edge cl3 of the latch-plate is inclined from its inner end outwardly, this inclined edge normally projecting beyond the edge of the door and forming a latching-shoulder d4 at a point just inside of the main plate c. The latch is kept normally pressed beyond the edge of the door by means of a spring e, which is constructed of a single piece of spring-Wire bent into shape. The wire is passed through aholfe in the latch near its shoulder d4, its two arms being then carried inwardly parallel with and close to 5o the inclined edge d?, and then bent around the bosses d', formed on opposite sides of the plate,

`the two free arms being carried outwardly and secured by being bent through holes in the respective arms c near the main plate..

The wire tending to straighten itself normally gages when the door is closed. An inclined bar or plate g is secured to the structure l) in the same horizontalplane with the latch and a sufficient distance from the door-frame to enable the latch to engage it when the door is swung open,'this inclined bar being supported away from the structure by legs or plates g', formed integrally with it and secured to the adjacentY structure. An operat-- 7o ing-wire his connected to the latch and secured on the inside of the door, this Wire being preferably extended to near the hinged edge of the door.

In operation, it will be observed, in closing the door the inclined edge of thelatch strikes the edge of the plate f, secured on the edge of the door-frame, and the latch is thereby forced inwardly until it passes the plate, after which it automatically springs outwardly and its 8o shoulder (Z4 engages behind said plate. The door is then latched inits closed position. In opening the door from the inside the Wire or cord his drawn upon, and in opening from the outside the hook cl2 serves as a means for 85- operating it. Vhen the door swings open, the curved hook d2 strikes the inclined face ofthe bar g and automatically engages under the same, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 2, therebyrlatching the door open. 9o

The advantages of this simply-constructed latching device are obvious. The same latch is employed to hold the door open that is employed to hold it in its closed position. The device is very simple, compact, and durable in construction, and is not liable to get out of order. The operating-wire serves as a means of operating the latch both when it is open and when it is closed, as is evident. The advantage of supporting the inclined bar away roo from the structure is that when the door is swung open the main plate c strikes against the inclined plate and its supports, and theref.

by takes up the jar and prevents the curved hook coming in Contact with the structure, as

shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I-claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a latch for doors, the combination of main plate c, provided with a pair of inwardly-projecting arms o', a spring-actuated latchplate d, pivoted between the inner ends of inwardly through a slot in the door, and a latch-plate (l, pivoted on the inner end ot' said arm c and having an inclined edge cl3, projecting beyond the edge ot' the door, and a vhook d2, projecting outwardly` through the slot in the main plate, means on the adjacent structure in line with the latch for engaging the hook d2 when the dooris open, an operating-rod 71 connected to the latch-plate inside of the door, and means on the adj acont structure to engage the latChing-shoulder when the door is closed, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a hinged door and a support or structure therefor, a main plate attached to the edge of the door and provided with an arm extending inwardly and passing through a slot in the door, a pivoted latch-plate on" the inner end of said arm and provided with a hook on `its outer end, said hook projecting outwardly beyond the door, a

spring for actuating the plate, and an inclined catch-bar secured to the structure in line with the latch, this bar being supported away from the structure to `prevent the hook d? from striking the same when the door is thrown open, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY D. VVHEATLEY. Vitnesses: y

R. B. TURPEN,

CHAS. J. TURPEN. 

